Chelsea’s winning run came to an end as they were held to a goalless draw by Everton at Goodison Park on December 22, 2024. Despite their impressive eight-match winning streak in all competitions, Chelsea struggled to break down a resilient Everton defense, and the match ended with both teams sharing the spoils.
The match marked the start of a new era for Everton under the Friedkin Group, who had completed their takeover just days earlier. The club’s new owners were in attendance, alongside Marc Watts, Everton’s new executive chairman, to witness the beginning of this fresh chapter. Under the stewardship of Sean Dyche, Everton had been showing signs of defensive solidity, having kept five clean sheets in their last six matches. However, the team still faced challenges in converting draws into victories, with this result adding to their growing tally of stalemates.
Chelsea, aiming to maintain their push for the Premier League title, struggled to find their rhythm against a well-organized Everton side. Despite dominating possession, Chelsea were unable to create clear-cut chances. The visitors’ best opportunity came midway through the first half when Moisés Caicedo and Pedro Neto combined to release Cole Palmer down the left wing. Palmer’s low cross found Nicolas Jackson, but the Chelsea striker’s powerful shot was saved by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who made a crucial stop with his legs. The rebound fell to Malo Gusto, but his header was off target.
Chelsea’s dominance continued, and they almost broke the deadlock when Jackson headed an Enzo Fernández corner against the post. The ball rebounded towards Gusto, but his shot deflected wide after a slight touch from Pickford. The Everton goalkeeper’s quick reflexes kept his side in the game, and he was fortunate not to face more pressure after his initial save.
Everton’s defense, led by James Tarkowski and Conor Coady, held firm against Chelsea’s attacks. While Dyche’s team struggled to create chances of their own, they remained solid at the back. The best chance for Everton in the first half came from a long-range shot by Orel Mangala, which was tipped away by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
In the second half, Chelsea showed more urgency, but still lacked the cutting edge needed to break down Everton’s defense. The best opportunity for the hosts came when Jack Harrison found himself unmarked in the Chelsea penalty area, courtesy of a clever cross from Iliman Ndiaye. Harrison had time to control the ball and pick his spot, but his close-range shot was saved by Sánchez.
Everton’s substitutes, Beto and Jesper Lindstrøm, combined with Mangala to create another excellent chance. Lindstrøm’s low shot was diverted by Sánchez, and the rebound fell to Ndiaye, who looked certain to score. However, Chelsea’s Tosin Adarabioyo made a vital block to deny the Everton forward and preserve the deadlock.
Both managers expressed satisfaction with the result. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, while disappointed not to secure all three points, acknowledged the difficulty of playing at Goodison Park and praised his side’s defensive performance. He also emphasized the importance of learning from such challenging encounters, especially for a young team still finding its way in the title race. Maresca’s assessment reflected the growing understanding that Chelsea’s title challenge would require more than just attacking flair it would need resilience and tactical flexibility.
Dyche, on the other hand, was pleased with his team’s mentality and defensive organization. Despite the external noise surrounding the club due to the recent takeover, he believed Everton had shown a strong response. While the point was valuable, Dyche knew that his team would need to improve their attacking play to climb higher in the league standings.
Overall, the match was a test of Chelsea’s title credentials and Everton’s ability to maintain their defensive solidity under new ownership. While neither team could claim all three points, both left the field with something to build on, knowing that the challenges ahead would require even more focus and determination.
